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Created: 26 July 2019

DRAS: Commemoration of 20th anniversary of Kargil Vijay Diwas was conducted at the Kargil War Memorial in Dras today.  The celebration marks the gallant victory of the Indian Armed Forces who fought the Pakistani intruders between May-July 1999 in the Dras, Kargil & Batalik Sectors of Western Ladakh. All the three Service Chiefs took part in the Wreath Laying Ceremony at the iconic Kargil War Memorial in Dras on the occasion.

Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee & Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal BS Dhanoa, paid tributes to the martyrs of Operation VIJAY at the Kargil War Memorial by laying a wreath, followed by observation of two minutes silence by all present. Chief of Army Staff General Bipin Rawat, Chief of Naval Staff, Admiral Karambir Singh, Lieutenant General Ranbir Singh General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Northern Command and Lieutenant General YK Joshi, General Officer Commanding, 'Fire & Fury' Corps paid their respects to the martyrs who made the supreme sacrifice on these icy heights 20 years ago. Gen VP Malik (Retd), Chief of Army Staff during the Kargil War and several senior military & civilian dignitaries, Veterans and Veer Naris were also present on the occasion.

Proceedings of the day began with wreath laying by senior dignitaries at the imposing War Memorial located at the foothills of the Tololing feature. This was followed by Flagging In of the “Victory Flame” by the Chief of Army Staff and merging of the same with the Eternal Flame at the Kargil War Memorial. The Victory Flame was lit by the Hon'ble Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh on 14 July 2019 from the Eternal Flame at the National War Memorial. It reached Dras after having traversed a distance of over 1000km from New Delhi, carried by relay through major cities and towns in North India.

After the Wreath Laying Ceremony, the Service Chiefs visited the Hut of Remembrance, located in the War Memorial premises, where they paid tributes to the martyrs and were briefed on the valour of the brave soldiers, who made the supreme sacrifice for the nation in the epic battles fought in the summer of 1999. The Chiefs also interacted with the invitees especially Veer Naris and Veterans as well as troops deployed in the sector.

The 20th anniversary of Operation VIJAY is being celebrated across the nation with the theme of REMEMBER - REJOICE - RENEW. We ‘Remember’ our martyrs, by revisiting the sacrifices and instilling pride and respect among us, we ‘Rejoice’ by celebrating the victory in Kargil and we ‘Renew’ our resolve to safeguard the honour of the Tricolour.